I frequently get the question, “What mountain bike should I buy?” It’s usu- ally not a question my riding buddies
ask. They already know what type of riding
they do, what bikes they have ridden in the
past, and what they know they want. The
question usually comes from someone who
wants to get into the sport. Someone who
sees the excitement of trail riding I get to
experience regularly, and sometimes even
take for granted.

It’s pretty tough to buy a “bad” bike
these days. We’re sitting on nearly 40
years of technology that’s trickled down to
even the most entry-level bikes. That technology makes our bikes better. I remember
my first ride on a suspension fork. It was
on a GT Tempest that came with an elas-tomer-sprung Rockshox fork. The thing felt
so flimsy that I actually believed I had a flat
tire rather than suspension. New riders to
the sport will never experience this. Even
the most entry-level bikes of today have
more technology than that bike I rode 10
years ago.

It’s a good time to get into mountain
biking. It’s pretty tough to make a mistake
when choosing equipment. We can guide
you to making the choice between a good
and a great bike, but the easy-peasy days
of spotting a “bad” bike are long gone.

Nevertheless, sifting through the sea ofbikes out there to find the one that bestfits your budget and riding style is nearlyimpossible without some guidance. That’sexactly what this guide is designed togive riders—guidance to find the rightmachine to hit the trails with.

Here are a few of my favorite tips I can
pass along to make the difficult—and
sometimes intimidating—process of finding the right bike easier.

DON’T TRUST THE FORUMSBUY THE RIGHT BIKETHE FIRST TIME

The rule of thumb here is to pick
the bike you can afford, then save your
pennies until you can afford the next
model up. It sounds elitist, but buying an

16 www.mbaction.com

It’s A Great Day For “New Bike Day”

BY MIKE WIRTH

entry-level bike with the hope to upgrade it
later is more costly than simply buying the
right bike from the start. Bike companies
buy their components by the crate-load,
and as a result, at the risk of sounding
cliché, pass the savings on to you. Sure,
not everyone needs a tricked-out bike with
every bell and whistle; however, taking the
time to seriously evaluate the riding you
plan to do with the bike and buying one that
can handle it will pay dividends in the long
run.

ASK YOUR RIDING BUDDIES

Nobody knows the trails better than the
riders who frequent them. If you’re relatively
new to the sport, ask the people you plan
to ride with what type of bikes work best,
what suspension platform they prefer, and
even what tires are working well in your
area. Their input can be invaluable. As an
added bonus, if you plan to ride with others
as a group, it’s always more fun to ride
comparably spec’d bikes. It’s pretty difficult
for two riders to have a good time if one
is on a cross-country rocket ship and the
other is on a downhill sled.

TAKE THE TIME TO FIT THE BIKE

Finding a bike that fits is every bit as
important as finding the right type or model
of bike. Fit is also more than just a T-shirt
size labeling a bike as small, medium or
large. Find a bike shop that’s willing to truly
dial your fit in from the start. Experiment
with different stem lengths, handlebar
widths and saddles. Don’t be afraid to ask,
because the best shops will be more than
willing to work with you on these critical
adjustments.

MAKE FRIENDS WITHTHE BIKE SHOP

It’s important to find a shop you’re comfortable working with. The shop should
smell of tires, grease and expertise. The
vibe should be positive and the employees
should make you feel confident that advice
you’re getting is more about finding the
right product than it is about the price tag.
Unlike most faceless retailers, most bike
shops didn’t open with visions of
grand wealth. Most shops are owned by
passionate cyclists. Finding one of these
shops will make your buying experience
much easier. ❏